Anti-stigma Programs Would Improve Mental Health Laws

[HereSince1628]

4. Many schools include health information in their curricula

we get taught about infectious disease, the importance of hygiene, vaccinations etc.

Some, maybe fewer than have a century ago, include education on reproduction and STDs.

I don't think mental illness education would have hot buttons similar to sex ed or evolution, imo American education mostly don't do it because it's not done.

For Americans there is a life-time risk of mental illness of about 50%. We think nothing of educating people to the signs of breast cancer or heart attack which bracket mental illness risks.

Many mental disorders reach the half-way point of their maximum incidence rates between ages 16 and 30. Seems like educating people who are entering into the high-risk portions of their lives relative to mental illness would be a reasonable public health intervention, that would also address the ignorance that enables stigmatizing attitudes.